Disposable douche



Feb.` 17, 1970 H. soKoLlc 'i "3,495,706

msPosABLE: DOUCHE med June y19. 19e? #Tilman/EVS.

United States Patent O 3,495,706 DISPOSABLE DOUCHE Harry M. Sokolic, Atlanta, Ga., assignor of one-half t Leon Sokolic, Atlanta, Ga. Filed .lune 19, 1967, Ser. No. 646,877 Int. Cl. B65d 85/ 08, 85/14; A61m 3/00 US. Cl. 206--69 4 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE Syringe means especially adaptable to the maintenance of feminine hygiene and comprising a collapsed flexible expandable and contractable fluid-impervious receptacle removably disposed within a hollow cannula, the receptacle and cannula having cooperating `means thereon to effect connection therebetween upon removal of the receptacle from the cannula and the equipment readied for use. The syringe means is suitably encased against contamination and for mechanical vending or for vending across the counter, and the same may be prepackaged with or without, optionally, a medicant disposed within the collapsed receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to the practice of personal hygiene, and more specifically, the present invention pertains to the provision of the disposable douche which is adapted to be vended in a compact package or kit form for assembly by the user in the preparation of its use.

Disposable douches are not, of course, new per se in the arts nor is it unusual to find the same prepackaged for vending purposes. Examples of such teachings are found in the patent to Richard C. McKenna, No. 3,057,352, issued Oct. 9, 1962, and in the patent to George P. Kempel, No. 2,664,893, which issued Jan. 5, 1954. But the construction of the douches in known structures of other prior art devices for the same or related uses, all point to the provision of apparatus which is bulky and therefore difficult to prepackage, and apparatus which is easily subject to contamination.

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of this invention to provide a prepackaged douche kit including a cannula, a fluid-impervious receptacle and, optionally, a medicant, the kit being so packaged as to retain the elements of the douche uncontaminated from the place of packaging to the time of its use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a douche kit including a cannula and fluid-impervious receptacle for preassembly prior to its use and wherein the receptacle is removably enclosed within the cannula to prevent the inadvertent rupture thereof prior to the use of the kit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a packaged douche assembly which lends itself to vending through mechanical machines or which may be sold across the counter in a package form and one which is inconspicous and occupies but little space.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a douche means as generally describe supra, the douche means or apparatus being noncomplex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is durable under normal usage.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more manifest from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a prepackaged douche kit constructed according to this invention and prior to its assembly;

3,495,706 Patented Feb. 17, 1970 ICC ` trated in its collapsed condition;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal medial cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, FIGURE 3 illustrating the receptacle in its expanded condition;

FIG'URE 4 is a detail transverse cross-sectional view of the infiated receptacle, FIGURE 4 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 4 4 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a detail transverse cross-sectional view of the cannula, FIGURE 5 being taken substantially on the plane of line 5 5 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a detail transverse cross-sectional view of the cannula, FIGURE 6 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 6 6 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 7 is a detail transverse cross-sectional view of the cannula, FIGURE 7 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 7 7 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a packaged douche kit constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The component elements of the apparatus as shown in FIGURE l comprise an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical case indicated by reference numeral 12 in FIGURE 1 of the drawing, an elongated cannula 14 forrned of any suitable rigid material, and a flexible, elastic and collapsible fluid-impervious receptacle 16 disposed within the cannula 14.

The cannula 14 is formed of any suitable well-known material, preferably of an inexpensive plastic, the cannula 14 being relatively rigid and comprising a substantially cylindrical elongated side wall 18 having a rounded closure wall 20 at one end thereof. As is seen in the several figures of the drawing, the cannula 14 tapers from its closed end 20 inwardly towards its opposed end which is open, and the side wall 18 adjacent the open end is provided with external and inwardly extending threads 22 which terminate adjacent an external outwardly flaring substantially cylindrical flange or abutment 24. As is clearly seen in FIGURES 2, 3, 5 and 6, the outer end portion 18A of the side wall 18 is provided with a first and second series of transversely extending apertures 26, 28, respectively, at regularly spaced longitudinal intervals relative to the end portion 18A, and with each series of apertures 26, 28 being circumferentially spaced 90 from one another.

The flexible, elastic and collapsible fluid-impervious receptacle 16 may be formed of rubber or of any suitable plastic material which is inactive in the presence of a medicant to which reference will be more fully made below.

A's is seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawing, the receptacle 16, when expanded under conditions of usage assumes an elongated substantially oval configuration which includes the elongated continuous or endless side wall 30 which is integrally formed with a pair of opposed end walls 32, 34, and wherein the latter is provided with a longitudinally extending axially elongated neck 36. The neck 36 is substantially hollow and cylindrical `and is provided with a pair of opposed open ends to afford communication with the interior of the receptacle 116i.

In order to permit the receptacle 16 to be collapsed to occupy but a minimal of space, the receptacle 16 is preferably molded or otherwise formed to provide the zig-zag 3 pleats 38 which, preferably, extend longitudinally thereof (see FIGURES 3 and 4).

Reference numeral 40 designates, in general, a coupler device, the coupler comprising a substantially hollow cylindrical side wall 42 which is internally threaded as at 44. One end of the side wall `42 is closed by an end wall 46 centrally apertured and integrally formed with a hollow cylindrical sleeve 48. Any suitable means (not shown) may be empolyed to iixedly secure the sleeve 48 to and externally of the neck 36 of the receptacle 16.

At 50 is indicated .(see FIGURE 3) a dry powdered medicant of a type conventionally used for douche purposes. While the medicant 50 is illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawing as being of solid particulant matter, it will be understood that the same may exist in solution with a uid such as indicated at 52 or may be suspended therein.

The kit assembly of FIGURE 1 of the drawing is obtained by collapsing the Huid-impervious receptacle 16 along the zig-zag pleats 38 until the same achieves substantially the configuration of the receptacle as shown in FIGURE 2. The receptacle in its collapsed form is then inserted within the cannula 14 with the end Wall 32 of the receptacle 16 being disposed in juxtaposed relation relative to the end closure Wall of the cannula 14. In this position, the side wall 30 of the receptacle A14 will extend in opposition to the adjacent inner surface of the side wall 18 longitudinally thereof, and the completed insertion is accomplished upon the engagement of the end wall 46 of the coupler 40 with the threaded end of the cannula 18 (see FIGURE l).

Optionally, and before the receptacle 116 is inserted within the cannula 14, the dry medicant 50 in powdered or particulate form may be placed therein, it being understood, of course, that the selection if the medicant and the material from which the receptable 16 is formed are chemically inactive relative to one another. As has been stated above, the medicant may be selected from any one of those commonly available in the open market for its intended use.

With the receptacle 16 disposed within the cannula 14 in the manner described above, the assembled apparatus and medicant is then encased in a substantially hard or rigid casing here bearing the reference numeral 12. The casing 12 may be formed of any suitable plastic material such as, for example, one having a cellulose base, and the casing 12 may be formed of a transparent or opaque material as desired.

The casing 12 includes an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical side wall 54 having a closure wall 56 at one end thereof against which the rounded end Wall 20 of the cannula 14 is adapted to abut. The opposed end of the casing 12 is closed by an end Wall 58 which may take the form of a substantially cylindrical cap suitably sealed and/or connected to the side wall 54 by conventional means and so as to provide an airtight and Waterproof connection therebetween. The closure wall or cap S8 irmly seats against the open adjacent end of the side wall 42 of the coupler 40 to seal against the same to serve several pur- I SCS. p0With the receptacle 16 disposed within the cannula 14 in the manner described above and the cannula 14 encased within the casing 12, all as described above, the unassembled components comprising the cannula 14 and receptacle \16 are prevented from moving axially relative to the longitudinal axis of the casing 12 whereby the abutting and sealing condition of the end wall 58 with the adjacent end of the side wall 42 of the coupler 40 will prevent the inadvertent and accidental discharge of the dry medicant 40` from the receptacle 16 if the medicant is to be packaged with the douche apparatus. Additionally, this arrangement and disposition of the component elements of the apparatus prevents the apparatus from rupturing and/or puncturing the opposed end Walls of the casing 12 under the force of inertia as would be the case if the apparatus is otherwise packaged. Likewise, the outer diameter of the flange 24 and of the side wall 42 substantially equals the inner diameter of the side wall 54 of the casing y12 whereby the apparatus disposed within the casing 12 is inhibited against lateral movement in directions toward and away from the side wall 54 to reduce the possibility of fracture pr breakage. The tight packaging of the douche apparatus Within the casing 12 also prevents the production of a rattling sound when the kit 10 is carried in transit in, for example, a handbag or pocketbook.

To utilize the douche apparatus it is only necessary for the user to remove the end wall or cap 58 and withdraw the cannula 14 together with its enclosed receptacle 16. The receptacle 16 is then withdrawn from the cannula 14 and is lled with any suitable iluid through the coupler 40 after which the coupler 40 is engaged with the open end of the cannula 1-4, the threads 22 mating with the threads 44. The threaded engagement is maintained until the flange 24 abuts and seals against the outer open end of the side Wall 42. The apparatus as thus assembled is readied for use.

With the above description of the component elements of this apparatus when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, the invention is deemed to be taught in its entirety, `and its use obvious. Still it is felt that reference should be made to further unique features thereof. For example, the entire means 10 being formed of inexpensive materials provides a low cost item which may be readily disposed of after but a single use. Further by dimensioning the sleeve portion `48 so as to make telescopic and sliding engagement within the open end of the cannula -14 there is provided a friction rit which prevents the inadvertent separation of the receptacle 16 and its coupler means 40 from the cannula 14. This feature of the invention is of particular importance not only to the general tpublic but also in hospital usage for it assures physicians and nurses in that a complete complement of the necessary ,fdouche apparatus is available as a unitary construction in hospital usage it would be not necessary that the cannula 14 and receptacle 16 be encased within a casing such as that shown at 12, although such an encasing means is preferable.

Further, by providing a receptacle 12 having an end closure wall or seal S8 adapted to make sealing engagement with the open end of the Iside wall 42 of the coupler 40, these means effectively prevent the powdered or particulate medicant 50, if packaged within the receptacle 16, from being displaced therefrom to become lodged within the case 12.

By providing the side wall 42 of the coupler means 40 and the ange 24 with substantially the same outside diameters which correspond substantially to the inside diameter #of the side wall 18 of the cannula =14, a sliding, telescopic 'dit is obtained therebetween which tends to hold the cannula 14 in spaced axial relationship relative thereto, and these means taken together with the end closure wall or lcap 58 of the casing 12 serve to prevent the closed end of the cannula 14 from striking against the side wall 18 to thereby reduce or completely eliminate any tendency of the apparatus to create a rattling sound which would call attention thereto.

And finally, it will be noted that the coupler means 40 constitutes substantially solid and rigid handle means which may be grasped lby the lingers of the operator when eiecting separation of the coupler 40 from the cannula 14 and the withdrawal of the receptacle 16 from the open end thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Disposable douche means comprising, in combination a cannula having apertures formed therein,

an expandable and contractable Huid-impervious receptacle disposed within said cannula, and cooperating means on said cannula and said receptacle for elfecting connection of said cannula with said receptacle and establishing communication therebetween,

means coacting with said cannula and said receptacle to prevent inadvertent separation thereof,

said cannula being formed of a substantially rigid material and includes an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical continuous side Wall having a pair of opposed open and closed ends, said cannula having said apertures formed therein over a portion of said side wall adjacent to and extending inwardly from said closed end thereof, said cannula having external threads formed thereon, said threads extending inwardly from its said open end and terminating at a point spaced inwardly therefrom, said cannula further having an outwardly flaring external cylindrical ange disposed adjacent the terminal point of said threads,

said receptacle being normally removably disposed within said cannula and including an endless elongated side wall having a pair of opposed end closure walls, one of said end closure walls having a substantially hollow cylindrical neck xedly connected thereto and projecting laterally therefrom in the direction of the elongation of said receptacle and affording open communication with the interior thereof,

coupler means comprising a hollow internally threaded cylindrical side wall having opposed open and closed ends and a substantially hollow cylindrical sleeve fixedly connected to and projecting laterally from said last-named closed end externally of said lastnamed side wall and in open communication with the interior of said last-named side wall,

said coupler means having its said cylindrical sleeve ixedly connected with said cylindrical neck of said receptacle, said sleeve together with its said connected neck being normally slidably and releasably received within and connected on said open end of said cannula when said receptacle is disposed in its normal position within said cannula,

said side wall of said coupler normally abutting said open end of said cannula to limit the inward movement of said sleeve relative to said cannula and to leave said side wall of said coupler exposed to serve as handle means in the withdrawal of said sleeve, its connected neck of said receptacle and said receptacle from said cannula through said open end thereof.

said coupler being adapted for threaded connection with said threaded end of said cannula upon removal of said coupler and said receptacle from said cannula, said threads coacting and meeting to eect said last-named connection, said flange and said open end of said coupler side wall engaging one another in effecting said last-named connection to provide a fluid type seal therebetween,

and means encasing said cannula, said encasing means including means sealing said open end of said coupler.

2. Douche means as defined in claim 1 wherein said encasing means includes means abutting said closed end of said cannula and the remotely disposed open end of said coupler when said receptacle is in its said normal location relative to said cannula, said sealing and abutting means preventing inadvertent longitudinal movement of said coupler relative to said cannula while disposed Within said encasing means.

3. Douche means as dened in claim 2 and a medicant disposed within said receptacle.

4. Douche means as defined in claim 2` wherein said side wall of said receptacle together with its said end -walls are formed with a plurality of longitudinal zigzag pleats extending in the direction of its said elongation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,047,437 7/ 1936 Sinkler.

2,492,326 12/ 1949 Scotti 206-l7.5 2,568,915 9/1951 Friedman.

3,104,663 9/ 1963 Laws 128-224 MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 

